Pills Anonymous

As we watch our community of Pills Anonymous continue to grow, we as managers look for new and innovative ideas/changes that we can add to expand our group‘s purpose. We are excited with the recent interest expressed by members and management regarding the topics of online sponsorship to our site.

Much thought and consideration has gone into these requests of our site providing such a valuable service. We are grateful to offer a new list to Pills Anonymous. This list is for those who desire to be an e-SPONSOR. An e-SPONSOR is a person that has agreed to guide a new person to our site through working the 12 steps of our program. We realize that the relationship between an e-SPONSOR and their e-SPONSEE may be likened to a temporary sponsor, until one can find a face to face sponsor at the meetings they attend. However, we also realize that there are some members of this site that do not have meetings within the realm of where they reside, and others who may be handicapped and physically unable to attend a meeting. For these reasons, we think the decision is best left between the e-SPONSOR and e-SPONSEE, as to what avenue they wish to pursue, i.e. a temporary e-SPONSOR or one that is interested in seeing their e-SPONSEE all the way through working the steps.

Most members here know that there is no formal organization of Pills Anonymous, yet; and in that same vein, no formal Pills Anonymous basic text such as those that are utilized by Narcotics Anonymous, or the Big Book that is used by Alcoholics Anonymous. At our face to face PA meetings, we rely on both of these books and their approved materials to help us until we realize our own organization with our own Pills Anonymous book of recovery and approved reading materials. Additionally, due to the limited, but growing amount of PA face to face meetings that are available, many of our Pills Anonymous members attend not only PA meetings, but NA and AA meetings too.

1983, NA Fellowship, regarding Sponsorship. (emphasis has been added for the purpose of this community.

Introduction

This pamphlet, based on our collective experiences, answers some of the most commonly asked questions concerning sponsorship. Although this pamphlet offers most of the essential information regarding sponsorship, it is not meant to be comprehensive. Rather, it presents a simple understanding of a vital tool in our program of recovery.

Sponsorship is the heart of the (12-step) way of recovery from addiction - one addict helping another. Sponsorship is also a two-way street, helping both the newcomer and old-timer alike.

Sponsorship

What is a sponsor?

A sponsor is a recovering addict in the program of Narcotics Anonymous, (or Pills Anonymous); someone we can trust to share our life experiences with (both good and bad); a person to whom we can go with our problems that may be too personal to share with the group. It is suggested that a sponsor be someone who has practice in working the Twelve Steps and is involved in the program. Primarily, a sponsor is a guide through the Twelve Steps of recovery.

Who needs a sponsor?

It is our experience that most addicts need a sponsor. At times, we all find ourselves on shaky ground, confused, in emotional pain, and in need of a helping hand. Since we rarely trusted others, we attempted to go it alone in life. This became one of our problems. We are people who have never learned how to live. This is where our sponsors come in. Our sponsors help by sharing their experience, strength, and hope. To sum it up, anyone who may have the desire to stay clean and begin to recover should have a sponsor.

How do you get a sponsor?

Listening is the key to finding a sponsor. The most obvious place to look for a sponsor is at 12-step meetings. Talk, share, and listen to members of the program; get plenty of phone numbers and use them. When you find someone with whom you can talk openly and relate, simply ask that person to be your sponsor. Chances are the answer will be "yes." Sometimes the person may be unable to sponsor you. Keep on trying! Remember that when one door closes, another will open. Continue to attend meetings, listen, and soon you will find a sponsor.

What length of clean time should a sponsor have?

The answer to this question varies from person to person. The sponsor may be a member with years of clean time behind him, or may only be a few months in the program. The sponsor's clean time and experience may well depend on the availability of sponsors in your area. The quality of time is more important than the quantity of clean time. Choose someone who has a firm grasp on the twelve suggested steps of recovery in a 12-step program, seems reasonably happy, and has the willingness to help other recovering addicts. We call people like this "winners" and it is a good idea to find your sponsor among these recovering addicts.

Should a sponsor be a friend?

Our experience has shown that a good sponsor relationship need not be based on friendships, but trust is vital. When looking for sponsors, we considered their experiences in life, the quality of their clean time, their availability to us, and their willingness to help. As trust deepens, friendship based on mutual respect often follows.

Should my sponsor be a man or woman?

It is strongly suggested that we find a sponsor of the same sex. Experience has shown that members of the same sex better understand certain issues, such as sexuality, family or identity problems, etc. We are emotionally unstable and it is easy to form emotional bonds with members of the opposite sex. This detracts from our program and could spell disaster, especially for the newcomer.

Should we have more than one sponsor?

We think not! Our experience has shown that it's easier to receive direction from one individual. We find it easier to trust in one person, rather than many. With one sponsor we can learn to build a relationship based on trust and honesty. Through shared experience, a sponsor is able to reflect on personal growth.

As we grow in the program we learn to be more open and honest with others. Remember: "Just for today, I will have faith in someone in a 12-step program who believes in me and wants to help me in my recovery."

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